New York Giants' Worst Contract is Painful to Admit

The New York Giants were very active in free agency this offseason, signing names like tight end Isaiah Likely, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and, most recently, defensive tackle DJ Reader, among others.

However, none of those contracts were particularly eye-opening. At least not yet.

The Giants did a pretty good job of paying understandable prices for their additions this spring, so we can't look at any of the acquisitions and bemoan their deals.

Last year, though, New York handed out a pact that looked beyond questionable right from the start: the three-year, $36 million extension it gave wide receiver Darius Slayton.

Let me just start by saying that Slayton had been a reliable pass-catcher for the Giants since 2019. He had never achieved 800 yards receiving in a single campaign, but he went over 700 yards three times, and he was always dependable.

But $12 million annually was a steep price to pay for a player who really was just a No. 3 receiver on a good team, and we saw that in 2025.

Last season, Slayton caught 37 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown and struggled mightily with drops throughout the campaign. He missed three games due to injury, and his numbers were down across the board.

Now, the 29-year-old is expected to miss extensive time after undergoing core muscle surgery. He should be ready for training camp, but he will certainly be a question mark.

New York overhauled its receiving corps this offseason by signing Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III in free agency and selecting Malachi Fields in the third round of the NFL Draft, so Slayton could end up being an afterthought next fall.

A $12 million afterthought.

Slayton will almost certainly be on the roster in 2026. He has virtually no trade value at the moment, and his cap hit is far too expensive to outright release him.

How much playing time Slayton will actually get, however, remains to be seen. It will largely depend on how much of an impact Fields makes during his rookie campaign, but if Fields does end up producing, Slayton could be relegated WR5.

The Giants never should have given Slayton that type of contract. Even at the time, it was a bad deal. If it was between letting Slayton walk or having to give him $12 million annually, the former should have 100 percent been the choice.

I like Slayton, but his salary should not be in double figures.

As of right now, the former fifth-round pick — who far exceeded his initial expectations — is the worst contract on New York's roster.

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